A prototype expert system for the evaluation and selection of potential suppliers

This paper suggests that the evaluation and selection of potential suppliers is becoming a more important and critical decision in today’s competitive operating environment. It reveals that many firms are reducing their number of suppliers and the supplier base may provide a company with a strategic competitive advantage. The paper explains that the supplier selection decision now involves many judgemental factors in addition to the historical selection criteria. It offers a prototype expert system which enables users to evaluate and select a potential supplier based on the strategic importance of the product involved, quantitative data and qualitative factors. The system’s early validation results show its potential as an effective decision-making aid.